Colostomy device



y 1954 M. G. FULLAWAY COLOSTOMY DEVICE Filed July 12, 1952 INVENTOR. MAURICE G. FULLAWAY ATTORNEYS Patented May 25, 1954 COLOSTOMY DEVICE Maurice G. Fullaway, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Fidelity Medical Supply (30., Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 12, 1952, Serial No. 298,576

This invention relates to a surgical device for use following a colostomy operation.

The invention has particular relation to a pro- 11 Claims. (Cl. 128283) tective shield including a sanitary dressing having an aperture therein to be fitted over the opening in the human body remaining after a colostomy operation. It is of such character that the dressing portion of the device functions in cooperation with the shield portion and the means for holding the device in place on the body to make the device comfortable to wear, unlikely to slip out of place, inconspicuous when worn, and affording a high degree of protection.

It is desirable in a device of this character that the dressing portion should be highly absorbent, that it be disposable and so inexpensive that the dressings may be used and discarded as j often as necessary, that the protective shield which forms an important part of the device should be sanitary and readily sterilized, that the device he firm so as to protect the opening left by the operation yet soft and comfortable against the body, that it will remain in place.

when worn despite movements of the body, and

that it be of such shape and dimensions 1 that it can be worn inconspicuously under the clothing and will not be uncomfortable or troublesome at night.

The present invention successfully meets all of these requirements and provides a simple colostomy device which is efficient and comfortable and is relatively inexpensive.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a surgical device of the character de-" scribed which is absorbent to a high degree, is highly sanitary, may be manufactured at small Referring to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device as shown includes a main compress pad of absorbent material, generally rectangular in shape and foldable along a central line I2 into portions l3 and [4. The portion 13 has an aperture l near the center thereof which preferably is substantially circular in shape and is of such size that it may readily be fitted by the user over the body outside the opening left by the colostomy operation. The portion 14 of the compress is adapted to be folded along the fold line l2 with flap portion l4 integral with compress portion l3 and cooperating therewith to form a double thicknesspad. 'The corners of pad It! may be rounded as shown to minimize chafing and give a pleasing appearance.

A second smaller pad of similar absorbent material is provided of a size predetermined to extend over and cover aperture l5. It is desirable that both the main pad and the cover pad should be relatively thick so as to have substantial absorptive capacity, and that the material from which they are formed should be relatively soft and sumciently inexpensive that the pads may be freely and frequently discarded and replaced,

and they may accordingly be made of inexpensive highly absorptive cellulosic material. Pads of such material of the desirable thickness will have the further advantage of being soft and relatively resilient so as to expand and contract somewhat with movements of the wearer's body. 1

( A shield 25 is provided to be received between A the two folded portions of pad l0, where it serves cost, and which is efficient and comfortable to wear and very economical in use.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawing and the appended claims.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, exploded to show the separate parts in their respective relative positions in use;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective on a larger scale of the shield portion viewed from the top;

Fig. 3 illustrates a vertical sectional view of the pad and shield portions of the device in position against the body of the user before the shield cover and retaining belt are fitted thereon; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view along the same section as Fig. 2 with the shield cover and retaining belt in position.

both to protect the body opening and to support pads l0 and 20 in position. Such shield should be of light-weight, thin, stiff material, either metallic or molded plastic, which may readily be cleaned and boiled for sterilization, and is preferably dished at its center to form a cup portion 26 surrounded by an outer frame portion 21. It may be of generally oval shape in order to avoid any sharp corners thereon which might press against the body of the wearer and chafe or irritate it in use, and is shown as having a series of apertures 28 for ventilation and passage of moisture, gases and the like. It is desirable also that its surface be smooth and somewhat polished so as to move with minimum friction against the adjacent surfaces of compress l3 and flap 14.

A retainer belt 30 having a shield cover 3i and a belt portion 32 adapted to encircle the body and to be secured by buckle 33 is provided for holding the pads and shield in place. The shield cover is preferably provided with a relatively large opening 35 adapted to fit over the convex side of cup 26 and prevent shield 25 and pads l and from slipping, and both cup 26 and opening 35 should be non-circular in order that the shield will not rotate out of place in use. The shield cover should be of a size and shape which will readily press frame portion 21 of the shield against pad H! so as-to hold ittightly against the body, and may be strengthened by reinforcing stitching 36 and by binding 31 around the outside edges and around the center opening, as shown in the drawing. Both the shield cover and belt should be of light-weight washable material such as fabric for easy sterilization.

In using the device, pad it is placed in position with aperture iii position over the body opening left by the colostomy operation. Cover pad 29 i then placed over aperture !5, and shield is placed thereover with one of its longer edges lying along fold line 52 and cup portion 2% rec-eivingand supporting cover pad Flap portion :ht' is then folded upwardly over shield 25, andbelt is fitted around the waist withapertum/35 fitted overthe cup pcrtionof theshield, and secured by buckle With the device assembled and strapped, on-in this manner, frame portionfil of the shield presses the outer portion of compress it against the body of the wearer andpreventsescape of any liquid. The thickness of compress it also. holds cover pad 23 out of irritating contact with the edges of the openin in the body, and the cover pad is held securely in place bycup portion 26, as indicated in Fig. 4, without being caused to press directly against such opening.

' It will be seen that shield is not in direct contact with the body of the wearer, nor with retainer vielt frictional contact with which would tend to prevent adjusting movement of the shield to adapt itself to movements ofthe bodyof the user, but comesin contact primarily with the relatively smooth, resilient surfaces of portions 13 and it of pad it, and by reason of its own smooth surface may slide freelyagainst their surfaces, and is in effect floated between them. movements. of the wearer within. thelimitspeh mitted by the cooperation of cup portion 25' and,

siveness may readily be disposed of when theybecorne soiled and fresh pads substituted, as desirable. The stiff metallic or plastic shield affords a protcctionfor the body opening and serves to retain the pad in proper position, yet by being enclosed within the folded pad does not come in contact with the body of the user so as to chafe or irritate it, and all parts of the device cooperate with each other tocoinprise a firm, soft, absorptive, highly sanitary, efficient and economical protection for the body.

The device readily adjusts itself to movements of the body of thewearer and is therefore unusually .comforta laat thesametim be ng quit It may thus readily adjust itself tobodily inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is: :1. A. colostomy device comprising a pad of absorbent material having an aperture therein adapted to overlie the body opening, a stiff lightweight protective shield in contact with said pad outwardly beyond said aperture therein in position for protecting the body opening from accidental contact, a washable fabric covering overlying said shield, anda body encircling belt attached to said fabric covering for securing said device in place on. thebody of "the user.

2. A COlOSllOlilYdfiBVlCB comprising a replaceable pad of absorbent material adapted to engage the body and'having an, apertu-retherein adapted to overliethe body opening, a stiff light-weight protective shield engaging a portionof said pad surrounding said aperture therein and protecting the body opening from accidental contact, said shield having ventilating apertures therein, :a Washable fabric covering overlying the outer surface of said shield, anda body encircling'belt attached to said fabric covering for securing said device in place on the body ofthe user.

3. A colostomytdevice comprising amain resilient pad of absorbent materialhaying anaperture therein adaptedtooverlie the body opening, a. cover pad of absorbentmaterial overlying said main pad and closing said apertura'a stiff light-' weight protective shield having a centralcup portion receiving said cover padand an outer frame portion contacting said main pad to press it against the body of the user around said body opening, a washable fabric covering overlying said shield andhaving an opening receiving said cup portion, and a body encircling belt attached to said fabric covering for securing said .device in place.

41A colostomy device comprising a resilient pad of absorbent material having an aperture therein adapted to. overlie the body opening, a stiff light-weight protective shield having a-central cup portion and a frame portion'contacting said-pad to press it against the bodyofthe user around said'body opening, a cover pad ofabsOrbent material received within said cup-portion in overlying relation with said aperture, a washable fabric covering overlying saidshiel'd andhaving an opening receivingsaid cup portion, said cup portion and said'opening cooperating with said resilient pad to permit limited adjusting movement, of said shield and s id'pads with respect to the body of the user, and a body encircling belt attached to said'fabric covering for securing said device in place.

5. A colostomy device comprising a stiff lightweight protective shield having a central noncircular cup portion, a washable fabric shield cover having a non-circular opening receiving the outer side of said cup portion, a resilient compress of adsorbent materialhaving an aperture adapted to be placed over the body opening, a

flap porti n r wit aid compres and: folded over said shield between said';shield and;

said fabric cover, a cover pad of absorbent material received within said cup portion in over lying relation with said aperture in said compress, saidcup portion and said shield cover cooperating to permit limited adjusting movement of said shield within the fold of said resilient compress with respect to the body of the user, and a body encircling belt attached to said fabric covering for holding said device in position.

6. A colostomy device comprising a disposable pad of soft absorbent material folded along a fold line to form a compress portion and a flap portion,'said compress portion having an aperture therein for surrounding the body opening when in use, a disposable cover pad of soft absorbent material in overlying relation with said aperture, a shield for said pads received between said compress portion and said flap portion in overlying relation with said cover pad, a body encircling belt for holding said shield and pads in position upon the body of the user, and means connecting said shield and said pads to said belt.

'7. A colostomy device comprising a disposable pad of soft absorbent material folded along 2.

fold line to form a compress portion and a flap portion, said compress portion having an aperture therein for surrounding the body opening when in use, a disposable cover pad of soft absorbent material received between said compress portion and said flap portion in overlying relation with said aperture, a shield of stiff material for said pads received between said compress portion and said flap portion in overlying relation with said cover pad and having a series of ventilating apertures therein, a body encircling belt for holding said shield and pads in position upon the body of the user, and means connecting said belt to said flap portion.

8. A colostomy device comprising a disposable pad of soft absorbent material folded along a fold line to form a compress portion and a flap portion, said compress portion having an aperture therein for surrounding the body opening when in use, a disposable cover pad of soft absorbent material received between said compress portion and said flap portion in overlying relation with said aperture, a shield of stiff material for said pads received between said compress portion and said flap portion and having a central outwardly formed cup portion in protective position overlying said aperture and a series of ventilating apertures, and a body encircling belt attached to said pads and said shield for holding said device in position upon the body of the user.

9. A colostomy device comprising a disposable pad of soft absorbent material folded along a fold line to form a compress portion and a flap portion, said compress portion having an aperture therein for surrounding the body opening when in use, a disposable cover pad of softabsorbent material received between said compress portion and said flap portion in overlying relation with said compress portion for closing said aperture, a shield for said pads of greater lateral extent than said cover pad received between said compress portion and said flap portion, a central cup portion in said shield in protective position overlying said aperture for receiving and positioning said cover pad without pressure on the body opening, a body encircling belt for holding said shield and pads in position upon the body of theuser, and means connecting said shield and said pads to said belt.

10. A surgical appliance for use following a colostomy operation comprising a pad of absorbent material having a body portion and a flap portion integral therewith, said body portion having a central aperture for positioning in overlying relation with said body opening, a second pad of soft absorbent material received between said portions of the first named said pad overlying said body portion and covering said aperture, a supporting means for said pads including a shield of thin firm material received between said body portion and said flap portion and outwardly of said second pad, and a body encircling belt having a portion connected with said pads and said shield to hold the same against the body of the user.

11. A surgical appliance for use following a colostomy operation comprising a pad of soft absorbent material having a body portion and a flap portion integral therewith and connected along a fold line, said body portion having a central aperture adapted to surround said body opening, a second pad of soft absorbent material received between said flap portion and said body portion in position to cover said aperture, and supporting means for said pads including a shield of thin firm material received between said body portion and said flap portion and outwardly of said second pad when said first pad is folded along said fold line, a central non-circular cup portion in said shield directly overlying said central aperture, and a body encircling belt overlying said flap portion and having therein an opening receiving said cup portion for holding said pads and said shield against the body of 

